On Monday, the judge in the case ordered Al-Abdi to go for a medical checkup to determine if he is competent to stand trial. His lawyers argued that he was menally unfit.

Al-Abdi justified his actions by saying that he "enabled [the victim] to choose between embracing Islam, leaving the country or being killed," the paper said. He also sent a threatening letter to the Jewish community of Yemen telling them to embrace Islam or leave the country.